Two Kosciusko County students have been named recipients of four-year, full-tuition scholarships to the Indiana colleges of their choice as the Kosciusko County 2014 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars. The 2014 Kosciusko County Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are Sarah Boyle and Nolan Sponseller.

Boyle is a senior at Warsaw Community High School. She is in the top 10 percent of her graduating class. She plans to attend Purdue University and major in nursing. She hopes to become a pediatric nurse Practitioner. The committee was impressed with Boyle’s community service, which included designing and managing the first ever local color run for an area nonprofit that provides physical therapy to children. The event raised $15,000.

Boyle is a member of National Honor Society, through which she serves as a tutor. Among her many school and community activities, she’s been a 4 year member of the Octagon Club, 3 year member of varsity soccer, 4 year member of girls tennis and serves on her school’s student athletic board. Her volunteer activities are extensive and include helping with cancer fundraisers and monthly work with an area soup kitchen. She also has work experience as a tennis instructor. Boyle’s references were excellent. Her parents are Patrick and Shari Boyle.

Sponseller is a senior at Tippecanoe Valley High School. He is ranked second in his graduating class. He plans to attend Taylor University to study developmental economics. Sponseller was a four year member of the Student Council and served as president of his junior and senior class. He was a 3 year member of National Honor Society, a 4 year varsity football player, a 4 year member of Varsity Track, a 2 year member of Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy, a 3 year member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Key Club and a 2 year member of FFA. His community activities have been extensive and include philanthropy groups Kosciusko Endowment Youth Services (KEYS) and Dekko Foundation’s youth philanthropy group, Pfish.

His volunteer work has included Habitat for Humanity and Isaiah 11 Ministry, among many others. He also has work experience as a farm hand and as a stocker for a pet supply store. Sponseller’s references were excellent. His parents are Bryan and Lisa Sponseller.

In Kosciusko County, the Kosciusko County Community Foundation recommends recipients of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) for final selection. The process is “blind” in that committee members do not have access to student names when reviewing applications. Consideration for the scholarship is given to academics, community services, extracurricular involvement, work experience, references and essay responses.

ICI is a nonprofit corporation that represents 31 regionally accredited degree granting, nonprofit, private colleges and universities in the state.

The scholarships are a result of a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative to help Hoosier students reach higher levels of education. Indiana ranks among the lowest states in the percentage of residents over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree. There were 143 scholarships awarded statewide.